Becoming Ted | Matt Cain
An uplifting story of bravery, love and truth…
I thoroughly enjoyed Becoming Ted and have a feeling that it could be a defining narrative for 2023 because it embodies change and the challenges of life, whilst presenting an ultimately uplifting resolution.
Sometimes, something good really can come out of adversity and through Ted, Matt Cain shows us that we might not be able to alter a situation, but we can decide how we react to it.
It’s such an agreeable change to find a male, gay, protagonist approaching middle age because Ted feels a well rounded and believable character. It’s glorious to have a book exploring heartbreak and the search for identity and self-fulfilment told through the eyes of a mature man. What works so effectively is the way Matt Cain uncovers how Ted got to be the man he is through his relationship with his parents and with Giles. There’s a gradual uncovering of truth through Ted’s childhood memories, not just for the reader, but for Ted himself, making the development of Ted so authentic.
However, this isn’t just Ted’s story…
Much of the plot is relatively gentle with characters providing their innermost thoughts for the reader, but it explores modern issues too. Prejudice, in many forms, permeates the story so that it provides insight into a world many readers will never experience.
I loved meeting Oskar and found his sexuality and his sense of otherness was sensitively handled. There’s also a mystery in the narrative about what has happened to Oskar in the past and about Ted’s family that adds an extra layer of interest to hook the reader further.
Denise plays the part of the voice of reason so well that I feel we all need a Denise in our lives
Her influence in the story is all the more affecting because she doesn’t necessarily practice what she preaches, making her vulnerable and appealing. Conversely, Matt Cain made me loathe Giles to the extent that mere mention of him made my blood boil.
Becoming Ted is a sensitive, realistic and ultimately uplifting exploration of love, identity and being true to yourself. Through Ted, Matt Cain gives his readers permission to let go of some of the constraints in their own lives and to make the most of opportunities that present themselves. Indeed, this might be a book whose protagonist happens to be gay, but that isn’t the point of Becoming Ted. Rather, this is a book about human connection, bravery and truth. It’s well worth the read.
Becoming Ted by Matt Cain is out January 19 2023. Pick up this week’s issue of My Weekly for an exclusive short story from Matt, too, called Hurricane Hettie.
